Signal valve



Feb. 5 1924. 1,482,511?

.' N. KELSEY SIGNAL VALVE Filed Feb. 26.. 1923 Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UH'TED STATES FRANK N. KELSEY, OF NEW" HAVEILCONNECTICUT, ASEIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO PAUL -C. SWOLE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

SIGNAL VALVE.

Application filed February 26, 1923.

To all whom itonag concern:

Be it known that I. FRANK N. KnLsnY, a citizen of the United States. residing at New jHaven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Valves, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a signal valve of thetype designcdto be attachedto the valve head of a niotor vehicle tire or the like that will sound an alarm when the air in the tire exceeds a predetermined pressure.

Among otheraims andobjects of-the invention may be recited the provision of a device of the character mentioned with a view to compactness, and in which the number of parts are few, the construction simple, the

cost of production small and etliciency and operation high.

The improvements in the details and rangement of parts will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings. in connection 'with the description hereinafter contained, wherein a preferred embodimentof the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting an understanding of the same.

In the drawings, t

Figure 1 is anelevation of my improved device complete; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation thereof.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like numerals of reference designate correspond ing parts in both figures; 1O designates the valve body having the chambers 11 and 12 therein, within the latter of which is the valve 13 on the valve plug 14.

Threaded within the body is a spring cylinder 15 provided with an opening 16 through the head thereof, between which and a shoulder upon the spring plug 17 is a spring 18. Fixed to the head of the spring cylinder is a sleeve 19, the inside diameter of which is substantially the same as the outside diameter of the upper portion of the valve body 10, and the lower. end 20 of which, when in register with the graduations 21 upon the exterior of the valve body 10, indicates the air pressure required to lift the valve 13 off its seat against the ten- 1 bushing 32.

Serial No. 621,384.

sion of the spring 18; This sleeve also projects above the end of the spring cylinder and terminates in the knurled head 22 so as to provide convenient means for manual rotation thereof, and fixed in the end thereof is a plate 23 having an opening 24 therethrough coincident with the opening 16 but of considerably smaller diameter.

Closing the outer end of the sleeve is an inverted cup 25 having an opening 26 through the'head thereof of substantially the same diameter as the opening 24. The arrangement of the inverted cup 25 and the plate 23 is such that there is a chamber 27 therebetween.

The head of the spring plug 17 is provided with a conical face 28, which enters a corresponding conical recess in the end of the plug 14, thus providing automatic means whereby these plugs are centered in relation to each other. One or more notches 29 are formed in the outer edges of the head of both of these plugs so as to provide con venient means for air to pass tl'iereby. Fixed in the lower end of the valve body 10 is an auxiliary valve body 30 having an air port 31 therethrough and threadahly secured within the interior thereof near one end is a This auxiliary valve body is shown herein as being permanently secured to the valve body 10.. but it may be made integral therewith if: desired. A port connects the air port with the chamber 12.

The numerals 34 designate a reducing head which is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 35 and a stem 38. This stem has an enlarged, relatively thin flattened portion 40. which extends equally upon each side thereof to walls of the air port 31. In its innermost position this re ducing head engages the seat 37 at the inner end of the chamber 36.

The notches 41 in the end of the bushing 32 provide convenient means for attachment of a wrench to rotate the bushing.

When not in use, the end of the auxiliary body 30 is protected. by a cap 42 threaded thereon.

The numerals 43 designate the valve head connected with the tire which abuts at its inner end. against the washer 39, and my device is connected to the valve head by means of the nut 45 that is rotatably mounted upon the auxiliary valve body 30.

When so assembled the end of the stem 38 forms an extension of the valve stem 44 within the valve head 43.

The combined cross sectional area of the grooves in the reducing head is substantially the same as the area of the port of the valve within the valve head 43. my improved device herein is being threaded onto the tire valve head the stem 38 and the reducing head 34 connected therewith float within the auxiliary valve body 30 and the reducing head 34 is held off its seat 37. There is no pressure upon the tire valve stem 44 at this time, hence no air can escape from the tire during the attachment or detachment of my device, thus preventing an unnecessary leakage of air.

After my device has been applied to the valve head, the cap 42 is removed and the tube from the air pump connected with the end of the auxiliary valve body 30. As the air therefrom engages the reducing head 34 it moves the same inwardly to Ward and onto its seat at the same time moving the valve stem 44 inwardly and opening the tire valve. The blast of air, whether from a hand or a power operated pump, that enters the chamber 36, is usually greater in volume than can be accommodated by the valve in the valve head 43. This incoming air is therefore reduced in volume. As. the air that engages the flat outer end of the reducing head 34 first moves and then holds the same upon the seat 37, it thereafter only permits such vo1- ume of air to pass through the longitudinal grooves 35 as can be properly taken care of by the valve in the valve head 43. The air thereafter admitted passes through the grooves 35, port 31 and head 43 into the tire valve. When the pressure exceeds that indicated by the graduations 21, the valve 13 is lifted off its seat by the air pressure within the tire and air port 31 against thetension of the spring 18. The air Withannouncing that the air pressure has e2:-

ceeded that indicated by the graduations, when the admission of .air through the valve bushing is discontinued and the spring 18 returns the valve 13 onto its seat.

' There are minor changes and alterations that may be made within my invention, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of the appended claim. I

Having described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a valve; a valve bodyhaving a chamber therein; a valve movably mounted within said chamber; means for holding said valve upon its seat by variable pressure: an auxiliary valve body at an angle to said valve body, having a port therethrough connected with the chamber in said valve body, and having means to. connect the same to a tire valve head; and a reducing head with longitudinal grooves therein, movably mounted within said auxiliary valve body, having a stem thereon that. contacts with the stem within said tire valve head whensaid auxiliary valve body is connected therewith.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto atlixed my signature.

FRANK N. KELSEY. 

